The government of New South Wales (NSW) has committed A$6.5 billion over the next decade to expand its electric bus fleet, with funding allocated for 1,700 battery-electric buses and the construction of 17 charging depots.
The investment forms part of the state’s latest budget and is intended to accelerate the transition of public transport away from diesel-powered buses while supporting local manufacturing and charging infrastructure.
Expanding the Electric Bus Fleet
The funding builds on NSW’s Zero Emission Buses programme, which aims to replace more than 8,000 internal combustion engine (ICE) buses operating across the state’s public transport network.
According to Australian publication The Driven, around 220 electric buses were operating across Sydney as of August 2025, while the state government had purchased an additional 921 electric buses since March 2023.
The latest investment is expected to significantly expand electric bus deployment across Sydney and regional areas.
Charging Infrastructure Development
Alongside new vehicles, the programme includes investment in 17 bus depots that will be equipped with charging infrastructure to support fleet operations.
The government said the funding will cover both the construction of new electric bus depots and the upgrade of existing facilities.
One example of the transition is Sydney’s Brookvale bus depot, which became the first of 11 depots to receive dedicated charging infrastructure for electric buses. The site recently installed Australia’s first Kempower pantograph charging system for public buses.
In a statement, the NSW Government said:
“The NSW Government will invest $6.5 billion over 10 years for thousands of new electric buses and electric supported bus depots to reduce our reliance on foreign fuels, meet the needs of the growing community and underpin a revival of domestic bus manufacturing.”
Part of Broader Transport Investment
The electric bus programme accompanies the state’s new 12-month Transport Affordability Package, valued at A$561.4 million.
The package includes measures to reduce the cost of vehicle registrations for cars and motorcycles, as well as lowering the weekly toll cap for motorists.
The latest funding reinforces New South Wales’ long-term strategy to electrify its public transport network while expanding the infrastructure needed to support zero-emission bus operations.